Mr Percy Thomas Oxenham

Mr Percy Thomas Oxenham was born in Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England on 4 October 1889.

He was the son of Charles Edward Oxenham (1852-1920), a stonemason, and Phoebe Josebury Bond (1854-1920). His father was from Ware, Hertfordshire and his mother from Middlesex and they had married in London in 1873. Percy was one of ten children and his known siblings were: Charles Thomas (b. 1874), Edward George (b. 1875), Henry Thomas (b. 1877), Amelia Sarah (b. 1879), Charlie (b. 1880), Phoebe Susie (b. 1883), Ethel Maud (b. 1894) and Eva Eliza (b. 1895).

Percy, better known as Thomas, first appeared on the 1891 census living at Redburn Cottage in Enfield, Middlesex where the family had moved to shortly after his birth. By the time of the 1911 census he was still living with his family, now at 86 South Street, Ponders End, Middlesex and he was described as an unmarried stone sawyer.

Percy boarded the Titanic at Southampton on 10 April 1912, travelling as a second class passenger (ticket number 14260 which cost £10, 10s). His destination was Hudson, New Jersey to the home of his brother Charlie.

Percy was acquainted whilst on board with Walter Harris and they shared adjacent cabins. Accounts vary, with some saying that he shared the same cabin with Walter. One account has a steward alerting them to the danger whilst another has Percy's own curiosity draw him to the upper decks to investigate any trouble. In any case, he and Walter watched several boats leave before they became separated with Percy ending up in lifeboat 13. He survived whilst his friend was lost.

Following his arrival in New York Percy continued to New Jersey, settling in North Bergen, Hudson where he gained employment. He was married around 1916 to a lady named Elsie (b. 1896) and together they had a daughter, also called Elsie (b. 1917, later Mrs Lawrence Jackson). The family settled in Cumberland, New Jersey around 1924 and Percy worked at the Dorchester Shipyard. He died in Vineland on 8 April 1954 and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park, Millville, New Jersey.

Credits

Gavin Bell, UK
Hermann Söldner, Germany

References and Sources

Hudson Observer, 20 April 1912, One Survivor Reaches Home Of BrotherJersey Journal, 20 April 1912, Experiences of a Young EnglishmanHudson Observer, 23 April 1912, Leaves Sinking Ship in Boat 13 and Still LivesContract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer At Port Of Arrival (Date: 18th-19th June 1912, Ship: Carpathia) - National Archives, NWCTB 85 T715 Vol 4183